A policewoman was injured and buttons ripped off her uniform blouse when tractor driver Roger Clarke, 27, of Galloway, Westmoreland, bolted from the Whithorn police station on August 2.

Clarke was trying to avoid being arrested and charged because he did not have a licence to ride his mototcycle. He now has three convictions arising from the incident and had to pay fines totalling $30,000.

The Whithorn Resident Magistrate's Court was told that Clarke, who owns a motorcycle, had given his friend a lift to the police station. When asked to produce the papers for the motorcycle, he confessed he did not have a rider's licence. He was told to take a seat as he would be charged.

uniform blouse

Clarke jumped up and pushed Constable Kenesha Simms Samuels, who was standing at the guard room room. The force tore the buttons from her uniform blouse. In a bid to gain her balance, the female constable reached for the fleeing Clarke, who 'flashed' off her hand, causing bruises and lacerations to her left and right forearm and left elbow.

Clarke then jumped over some chairs and fled. About three hours later, he returned and was charged with unlawful wounding, malicious destruction of property, escaping custody and assaulting a female.

He appeared before Resident Magistrate Sheron Barnes last week, pleading guilty to the offences. He explained that he had never been arrested before and was scared. He indicated his willingness to apologise to Constable Simms Samuels, which he did.

The policewoman , however, said there was no need for his behaviour as he was treated with the utmost respect. She said she was shocked by his reaction.

Clarke was fined $30,000 or six months' imprisonment for unlawful wounding and malicious destruction of property. He got a suspended sentence for escaping custody and is on the charge of assaulting a female - he was admonished and discharged.